Frequently Asked Questions - School of Engineering Science

Eligibility & Application

Program

For More Information

The best resource of information on our graduate program is online here. However, if you cannot find the answer to your question, or need specific material and are not able to find it online, please do not hesitate to contact us: enscapps@sfu.ca.

My undergraduate degree isn't in Engineering. Can I still apply?

No, in order to apply for the MASc or MEng, you must have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Science or a related area.

In order to apply for the Ph.D., you must have a Master's degree (or nearing completion) in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, computer science or a related field.

Can my employer write a reference?

Yes. The main thing is that your references are good and are coming from a credible source. Although we would prefer at least one academic reference, references from well known companies or any source that shed light on your personality are encouraged.

Do you require GRE, TOEFL, and/or IELTS?

The GRE is not required to be considered for admission.

Applicants with a degree from an accredited university in the US or Canada do not have to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. However we highly recommend it to strengthen your application.

Applicants from outside these 2 countries are required to submit recent IELTS or TOEFL scores. If you previous degree has been conducted (all communication and instruction) entirely in English, you may submit an official confirmation letter from your previous school in place of the IELTS or TOEFL.

For more information please see:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): www.toefl.org
Graduate Record Examination (GRE): www.gre.org
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): www.ielts.org

What are the minimum TOEFL and IELTS scores?

The minimum TOEFL requirement is: paper based 570 (essay score of 5), computer based 250 (essay score of 5), and internet based 88 (minimum of 20 in each category).

The minimum IELTS requirement is: an overall score of 7.

The most update-to-date requirements can be found at:

http://students.sfu.ca/calendar/for_students/grad_admission.html#1.3.12

What if I have a low TOEFL, and/or IELTS score?

It is highly recommended that you achieve the minimum score BEFORE applying as you cannot complete your online application without the minimum score.

When should I apply and how long does it take to get an answer?

There are three application cycles every year:

Starting Semester
Application period open / Deadline
School Decision Deadline

Spring (January)
May 1 - June 14
Sept 1

Summer (May)
August 1 - September 15
Jan 1

Fall (September)
October 15 - January 15
May 1

However, all supporting documentation needs to arrive by the listed Deadline in order for your application to be considered complete, and adjudicated for suitability of admission.

It is advisable to apply much earlier than the deadlines, as our adjudication of applicants begins as soon as your application is considered complete.

If my application is unsuccessful, can it be reconsidered at a later date?

Applications are only considered for the semester to which they apply, and will not be carried over. If your application is unsuccessful and you wish to reapply, you will have to commence a new application and repay the application fee.

Can I pay the application fee after I am admitted or after my arrival at SFU?

No.

I have not taken the TOEFL/IELTS yet. How should I fill out the appropriate fields in the application form?

Please note that in order for your application to be complete, you must have your (unofficial) score available for upload into the application system. Examination scores received after the end of the application deadline will not be accepted

Do you have a part-time program?

Yes, our MEng program is part-time.

It is designed for part-time study by practicing engineers and is based on a set of courses, normally offered in the evenings, plus a project performed in industry. Please note that international students are not eligible for this MEng program. This is a Part-time program designed for those individuals who are currently working in the industry in the lower mainland.

The MASc, on the other hand, is a full-time program in which primary emphasis is on the thesis, rather than course work. It is more exploratory than the MEng, and hence the areas of study cover a greater range.

How long does it usually take to get a MEng, MASc and/or PhD?

The expected time to finish the MEng program is 2-4 years of full-time enrollment. The maximum amount of time to finish is 6 calendar years from the date of first enrollment in the program.

The expected time to finish the MASc program is 2-3 years of full-time enrollment. The maximum amount of time to finish is 6 calendar years from the date of first enrollment in the program.

The expected time to finish the PhD program is 3-5 years of full-time enrollment. The maximum amount of time to finish is 8 calendar years from the date of first enrollment in the program.

How many courses does a MEng, MASc and/or Ph.D. degree require?

MEng students complete at least 21 units of required graduate course work (typically 7 courses) plus the Project course.

M.A.Sc. students complete at least 30 units consisting of a minimum of 12 units of courses (typically 4 courses), and a thesis equal to 18 units (can be enrolled up to 6 semesters).

Ph.D. students complete at least 18 units beyond the M.A.Sc. degree, a Qualifying Exam and Thesis.

Specific (up-to-date) details can be found in the SFU Calendar: http://students.sfu.ca/calendar/engineering_science/index.html

What are the areas of specialty of faculty?

The strengths of our research programs lie mainly in 5 areas:

Biomedical
Communications
Intelligent System and Control
Mechatronics
Electronics

Please have a look at our Research page for our programs of research.

Look here for a summary of faculty and their research interests.

How much is tuition?

Tuition charges change over the years, but for M.Eng (a premium fee, per unit) Program are approximately $4100 for the full academic year (assuming 3 semesters per year, 1 course per semester)

The M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. (research, per term) Programs are approximately $4800 for the full academic year (assuming 3 semesters per year).

Specific (up-to-date) tuition charges can be found at: http://students.sfu.ca/calendar/for_students/grad_tuition_fees.html#tuition

What is the typical cost of being a graduate student at SFU?

The typical costs of being a graduate student at SFU can comprise many things (from tuition, rent, books, etc.). A detailed breakdown of estimated costs is available here: http://students.sfu.ca/financialaid/costs.html

However, the Dean of Graduate Studies suggests that you budget approximately $25,000 per year in costs in order to be a graduate student at SFU.

Are there Scholarships?

Applicants should review our Dean of Graduate Studies website for more information about Entrance Scholarships. Some are by nomination only and others can be applied for by current students or applicants, but the majority are competition-based and the School can only nominate 1-2 students. It is highly encouraged to Applicants that THEY NOT budget for the successful receipt of these scholarships.

For Canadian Students an important one to apply is the NSERC scholarship. Information about the NSERC scholarship with program details and deadlines can be found at: http://www.nserc.ca/.

International Students who are not Canadian citizens and who require financial assistance to attend SFU must seek such assistance in their country of origin before arrival in Canada.

Many of the outside awards offered to students at SFU (for instance, NSERC) are restricted to Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

How does the School provide support to students?

If you are offered admission by a faculty member who will be acting as your senior supervisor, financial support in the form of a research assistantship (RA) may or may not be offered. This is a discussion you should engage in with a potential senior supervisor before commencing your application so you have a realistic idea of your potential support and costs.